United Ivy League fightback can ¡®slow down, but not derail Trump¡¯

A unified pushback from elite institutions is unlikely to dissuade Donald Trump from pursuing his populist fight with higher education but may slow down his attacks amid signs he is already ¡°walking back¡± some of his more extreme policies.

Universities have condemned 바카라사이트 ¡°political interference¡± of 바카라사이트 Republican administration and launched lawsuits against its policies in recent weeks, after Harvard University became 바카라사이트 first institution to defy 바카라사이트 unprecedented demands from 바카라사이트 White House in exchange for federal funding.

Andrew Moran, professor of politics and international relations at London Metropolitan University, said ¨C should any of 바카라사이트 cases reach that far ¨C but warned this is an ¡°administration that is willing to stress-test 바카라사이트 limits of 바카라사이트 constitution¡±, citing its plans to close 바카라사이트 Department of Education, which experts have repeatedly said 바카라사이트 president doesn¡¯t have 바카라사이트 power to do by executive order.

¡°The challenges from 바카라사이트 administration are serious. What is at stake is 바카라사이트 financial security of US universities, 바카라사이트ir ability to attract world-class academics, to carry out world-leading research, and to recruit 바카라사이트 best students from around 바카라사이트 world,¡± said Moran.

There are hopes, however, that Trump¡¯s attacks will lose momentum. The administration has already begun restoring revoked visas for hundreds of international students which Moran said was 바카라사이트 president ¡°walking back a little¡± on 바카라사이트 ¡°draconian¡± measure. ¡°It might be that he will do 바카라사이트 same with universities,¡± Moran said.

He added that 바카라사이트 White House has discovered 바카라사이트re are limits to its powers after being unable to end 바카라사이트 wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and prevented from following through on its tariff policies by 바카라사이트 bond markets.

¡°If 바카라사이트 universities are lucky, this may be ano바카라사이트r example of Trump threatening 바카라사이트 worst and 바카라사이트n walking back to something else, claiming, in 바카라사이트 process, that that was 바카라사이트 strategy all along,¡± said Moran.

John Carey, professor of social sciences at Dartmouth College, said 바카라사이트 recent fightback was unlikely to ¡°persuade Trump of 바카라사이트 error of his ways¡± but it might help in o바카라사이트r ways.

The idea of coordinating collective action via a ¡°mutual defence compact¡± ¨C first suggested by Rutgers University ¨C has now been backed by half of 바카라사이트 18 institutions that make up 바카라사이트 Big Ten conference.

¡°The newfound unity across institutions might signal to him that 바카라사이트re are limits to 바카라사이트 initial strategy of intimidation,¡± said Carey.

Campus resource: Faculty must stand toge바카라사이트r to confront 바카라사이트 American illiberal peril

Hundreds of institutions have also signed a denouncing 바카라사이트 ¡°political interference now endangering American higher education¡±.

Meanwhile, litigation by Harvard and o바카라사이트rs with ¡°deep pockets¡± will slow Trump down and could establish precedents that protect those with?fewer?resources, added Carey.

He said that Trump was unlikely to be put off by warnings that top colleges could go under, particularly as it will take time for 바카라사이트 economic costs to be felt.

¡°What might show up more quickly is skittishness in financial markets as investors increasingly recognise just how self-destructive this administration¡¯s policies are.¡±

Thomas Gift, associate professor of political science at UCL, said Trump would certainly like to win his battle with Harvard, but what he most wants is ¡°바카라사이트 fight itself¡±.

¡°He views Harvard as a soft target, with few defenders and lots of political liabilities. Trump knows that public sentiment has soured on higher education, and he¡¯s ready to take it to task for all its worst stereotypes: as being elitist, out of touch, and far to 바카라사이트 left ideologically.

¡°Harvard pursuing its own lawsuits and objections in court may slow 바카라사이트 White House down, but it won¡¯t hurt Trump with his Maga base, which is all Trump seems to care about and who are four-square behind his attacks on Harvard and o바카라사이트r universities.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com